https://www.theringer.com/nba/2023/12/18/24006001/nba-trade-rumors-oklahoma-city-thunder-lauri-markkanen
“2. Let the Lauri Bidding Begin
Speaking of Markkanen: On Friday, Yahoo’s Jake Fischer reported that the Jazz are leaving teams with the impression that Markkanen can be acquired in a trade, though it’s unlikely a move will be made due to the team’s high asking price. That said, here’s what Jazz front office boss Danny Ainge said way back in 2015: “There’s no such thing as untouchables.”
Ainge said this while he was running the Celtics, and it’s still true to this day, which is why former Jazz star Donovan Mitchell is now in Cleveland and Rudy Gobert is in Minnesota. Ainge is willing to trade just about anyone on his roster.
Of course, there is no rush to deal a 26-year-old All-Star with two years remaining on his contract at a team-friendly rate. But with a versatile skill set that’d allow Markkanen to fit on virtually any team, these factors all give him league-wide appeal.
So what’s the line for an acceptable offer? My impression from talking to teams is that it’s something resembling the haul the Jazz received for Mitchell and Gobert: so, five-ish firsts and/or players of comparable value. This is a lot for Markkanen in the sense that he doesn’t have postseason scoring success like Mitchell, or three Defensive Player of the Year trophies like Gobert. As good as Lauri is, he’s made an All-Star team only once and thrived at this level in only one system. But his qualities seem like a fit for virtually any scenario you can imagine: Flanking Bam Adebayo in Miami’s frontcourt, adding a desperate influx of shooting to help Detroit’s young core, replacing Julius Randle in New York, filling open space in Golden State, operating in the two-man game with Tyrese Haliburton in Indiana, mixing in with Houston’s versatile core, thriving off the ball in New Orleans, or completing Oklahoma City’s core.
Utah might determine Markkanen looks best as part of its own future. But with so many teams likely having interest and having the assets to make intriguing offers, we know that Jazz are at least willing to listen.” – Kevin O’ Connor
by LevelMeaning8260
7 Comments
Feels like this article is just repeating the intel from Jake Fischer — which came from opposing GMs (saying that the Jazz front office isn’t hanging up if they bring up Lauri). Still no real smoke there IMO. Feels more like other teams trying to wish it into existence.
Crazy thing about Lauri is he would thrive even more with a legitimate PG. Nowitzki was great, but what would he have been without Nash/Kidd? We saw flashes when Mountain Mike was here… But what would that look like now?
I think asking for “five-ish firsts and/or players of comparable value” is a great asking price because no one will give us that and I don’t want to trade Lauri
This just seems like a lot of speculation and wishful thinking, really nothing of substance here
If we trade Lauri this early I’m out on the Jazz for the foreseeable future.
all this smoke is just our record not being very good. danny ainge probably had one conversation about what lauri would cost, it gets leaked and it becomes a game of telephone.
both the donovan and rudy trades were 5D chess moves. don’s ruined the vibe in cleveland and minny is too expensive to survive as currently constructed. if the team ends up dealing lauri, best believe it’s going to make sense. trust the process.
I’m not even gonna read it – after the obvious attempt at clickbating by adding Luca and trade in the same title.